Stereotype-plate-casting apparatus.



PATENTBD AUG. 20, 1907.

H. F. BECHMAN. STBREOTYPB PLATE CASTING APPARATUS.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16. 1906.

rams cc., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. BEGHMAN, OF BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

STEREOTYPE-PLATE-CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed August 16,1906. Serial No. 330,806.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. BECHMAN, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stereotype-Plate-Casting Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved casting-box for casting stereotype plates for use on rotary cylinder printing presses; and the object of the present invention is to .provide a novel apparatus in which the matrices may be quickly and conveniently placed in the copes, and the plates also easily removed therefrom after casting; and the copes can be easily moved to and from the drag; and will be properly positioned by their supports relatively to the drag, and can be easily closed upon the same in proper position to enable the plates to be cast; and after the plates have been cast the copes can be opened and turned to horizontal position for removal of the plates. The parts are so proportioned that the copes are substantially balanced on their supports so that the apparatus can be readily and quickly manipulated by the operator.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the box closed, in full lines, and the copes opened, in' dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing the copes in casting position in full lines and showing them in open matrixplacing, or plate-removing, position in dotted lines.

In said drawings 1, l designate the opposite portions of the drag, which is shown as adapted for the simultaneous casting of two plates at each operation, if desired. The portions 1, 1 of the drag should be of proper form and construction to impart the usual interior contour to the stereotype plates, such as customarily required, and which needs no particular description. In the present instance the drag is firmly secured to the base 9 of the-apparatus.

The copes 2 and 2 are adapted to cooperate with the opposite portions 1, 1 of the drag, in forming the plates, and are provided with usual devices to retain the matrices 8, 8 therein, and each cope is hinged at its rear edge, as shown at 2 to lugs 3 on a rocking support 3, which rocks upon an elevated portion 9 of base 9, the curved portion of the rocking support 3 being preferably toothed, as at 3, to engage racks 9 on the part 9, so that the support will be accurately guided as it rocks to and from the drag.

When rocked to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the copes 2 and 2 are vertical and can be closed against and around the drag, as shown in full lines, or they can be swung open as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 1. When closed around the drag the copes can be locked by means of a link 4, engaging lugs or handles 2 on the copes, as indicated in Fig. 1. Any other suitable fastening devices may be employed which will securely hold the copes closed around the drag during the casting operation.

After the casting operation, the copes are opened to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1; then the rocking support 3 and the copes are turned to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position the copes lie with their concave sides uppermost, and the plates can be easily removed therefrom, and obviously, while in this position, the matrices can be easily removed from, or placed in, the copes.

The support and the copes should be practically so proportioned that when the copes are opened, the rocking support is substantially counterbalanced, and consequently can be easily swung to horizontal or vertical position without any severe jar or effort on the part of the operator. In order to prevent the support swinging too far toward the drag when raised to vertical position, suitable stop devices can be used. In the drawings I have shown the rocking support provided with a stop arm or arms 3%, which project from the inner end thereof and are adapted to contact with the base 9 adjacent the drag when the rocking support is raised to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, and prevent the copes swinging over against the drag.

The principal feature of the invention is the mounting of the copes in such manner that they swing from a horizontal to a vertical position; and I preferably employ a rocking and substantially counterpoised support. An additional feature of the invention is the mounting of two copes upon the same support and having them closable around one drag so that two plates can be cast at one operation.

By this apparatus, two plates can be cast by practically one operation, or each time the flask is closed, but obviously, if desired, only one plate need be cast at a time.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination of a drag, a rocking support, a cope hinged to said support, and movable thereby to and from the drag, said cope being swingable on the support to and from the drag when the cope is brought to a vertical position.

2. The combination of a drag, a rocking support, a cope connected to said support, and movable thereby away from the drag to a horizontal position and movable into a vertical position adjacent to the drag, said cope being swingable on the support to and from the drag when brought to a vertical position.

3. The combination of a stationary drag, a rocking support adjacent to said drag, a pair of copes hinged to said support and movable thereby to and from the drag and closable against the drag when brought parallel therewith.

4. The combination of a stationary drag having opposite casting faces, a rocking support adjacent to said drag, a pair of copes hinged to said support and movable therewith from horizontal to vertical position, and when in vertical position being adjacent to the drag and closable against the faces thereof.

5. The combination of a base, a two-faced drag mounted thereon, a rocking support tiltable from a horizontal to a vertical position, a pair of copes mounted on said support and tiltable therewith, and adapted to be closed around the drag when brought to vertical position.

6. The combination of a base, a twofaced drag mounted thereon, a rocking support having a rack and gear con nection with the base and tiltable from a horizontal to a vertical position, a pair of copes mounted on said support and tiltable therewith, and adapted to be closed around the drag when brought to vertical position.'

7. The combination of a base, a two-faced drag mounted thereon, a rocking support tiltable from a horizontal to a vertical position, and a pair of copes mounted on said support and tiltable therewith, and adapted to be closed around the drag when brought to vertical position; with means for securing the copes around the drag when brought into vertical position, and a stop for limiting the movement of the support when the copes are in vertical position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. BECHMAN.

In presence of F. W. DUNNING, CHAS. G. MECHEN. 

